Responses to some sidebar questions:

1.) Why can't Beowulf's men harm Grendel?

Because Grendel is so evil that he bewitched all the weapons so that they won't work on him.

2.) How does Beowulf kill Grendel's mother?

Beowulf killed Grendel's mother by cutting hear head off with a sword.

3.) What is Hrothgar asking Beowulf to do?

The King was asking Beowulf to kill Grendel.

4.) In what ways is this battle between Grendel and Beowulf really a battle between good and evil? Grendel represents an evil creature who wants to kill the king and his people. While Beowulf is from the side of the good who wants to save the people from Grendel. "IN the darkness the horrible shrieks of pain and defeat, tears torn out of Grendel's taut throat, hell's captive caught in the arms of him who of all men on earth was the strongest."